diesel in 97 sidekick sport, automatic, not moving

[side-kick-r]

I replaced the 1.8L gas engine with a VW 1.9L TDI. The engine runs great, but when the transmission is placed in D, R or other positions that move the tires, nothing happens. The transmission is in excellent condition (with only 50K miles and well cared for) and the flex plate to torque converter is perfectly mated. The single Suzuki powertrain computer controls both engine and transmission. What engine connections does the Suzuki computer require to assure it that there is a running engine and allow the various transmission components to "come alive"? I know this is a very technical question and that most engineers would need some time to answer... but what the heck, you guys might know some backyard tricks.

[side-kick-r]

The Sidekick Sport was purchased in the USA.
I do have the service manuals, all three. I did ask about the conversion, 5 months worth and was assured by ACME Adapters (Jeff?) that it would be no problem provided I had a specific year/model TDI engine and year Suzuki Sidekick "auto is ok". When everything arrived, engine, auto, ACME kit, the kit didn't work... was very, very far from working. Jeff said, "Opps, my bad, ~not~ that Suzuki Sidekick, the other one". I have to smile now, because what was impossible to do, I have done -Jeff and Rocky Road both said "it ain't gonna work", -just getting the engine in and plumbing (intake/exhaust) to work, and oh yeah, I gave the Sidekick a 3 inch lift and custom oil pan. I know I can get the transmission to behave, and I have a plan, but it doesn't hurt to find out other folks thoughts.

TPS- throttle position sensor is important later, but I agree that engine speed (CKP -crankshaft position sensor) is more critical at this point (VW engine does have it for it's ECU)... plus TPS is easy
VSS -vehicle speed sensor is also important later and easier to enable than engine speed
CMP- camshaft position sensor may not be important at all, I'll let the PCM (powertrain control module) fail that sensor with a code I'll rarely have to look at.

There's only one vehicle computer for USA Sidekicks, visually and in the manual. The large tires should counter breaking traction due to engine torque. Also, enlarging the ports by 0.1mm for shift solenoids 1 and 2 should allow the transmission to shift without a large impulse due to the diesel's greater torque.

Any other suggestions?

[Rhinoman]

If the VSS is on the transmission then that shouldn't be a problem. CMP can be divided down to get CKP, is this the signal from the VW alternator?

[m000035]

On most vehicles with computer controlled automatic transmissions, you can disconnect the transmission computer and the transmission will "work." It will need to be shifted manually and any features like a lock-up torque converter will not work.

This is a step for trouble shooting to figure out if it is the control or the transmission itself. I drove my Jeep Cherokee with the TCU disconnected for about a year then sold it. It drove fine. (It had a bad speed sensor and would down shift at unexpected times!)

Anyway, try it. You do not have much to loose!

[side-kick-r]

kick-fix & m000035 This (I'm unsure of the make/model/year you are familiar with) 97 Suzuki Sidekick Sport never had a TCM-transmission control module... The powertrain module it does have is labeled as "1.8 AT" and controls both engine and automatic transmission. The URL link (http://www.freedrive.com/file/825085,tcm-03-73le2.zip) you provided does not exist (500 - Internal Server Error). Have you checked your information lately? Do you have any ideas? (this "newbie" does his homework... and does it well...) Did you know that OBDII exists on this model and year?

Rhinoman Yes, VSS is very simple, even if the signal voltage needs to be increased. The VW engine has its own Hall Effect sensor which generates an engine rpm based on crankshaft speed. Camshaft speed is of no concern to me or the transmission as the transmission expects engine rpm, throttle position, brake engagement and vehicle speed as important parameters measured by the vehicle computer.

I will come up with a solution soon, NOT a "work around" (work-around’s are a waste of time and efficiency), but it doesn't hurt to find out more information... plus, this little rig will really rock when completed.

[Rhinoman]

Its difficult to give specific advice without all the details, and the 1.8 Sport was never offered here, but engine RPM is usually derived from the Camshaft Position Sensor which is why you may need to derive the cam sensor signal from the alternator. Do you know what the relationship between the alternator RPM signal frequency and actual RPM is?

There has been a number of threads on various boards about controlling the 4-speed without an ECU, AFAIK no one has mangaed it so far but you seem to a pretty good idea of what you're doing. We will try to assist you if we can.

[side-kick-r]

It's the Sidekick Sport JX/JLX. The difference between them is the bubble gum holders come with the JLX... mine have someone else’s stuck in there (shoot... now my gum gets mixed up with that ~other~ gum)
Bottom line is... time to do another hat trick. Goofing around in service modes/test modes etc. isn't for me. I want that little old Suzuki computer to love the input this diesel is gonna give, and give it deep. So I have to do some shopping, put together a small circuit board and use the VW engine's signals to imitate the 1.8L gasoline engine... no big deal, I've done it before (96 Toyota RAV4 4x4 auto with 96 VW TDI)... I'll have it done by 03OCT, but like I said it's good to ask around and find out who knows what. Thanks for writing.

Rhinoman, good show, you know some stuff!!

[kick-fix]

just get those two PCM designers at Toy and Suz to drink in same bar.
then maybe , truth comes out. LOL.

i see no others doing this. this year. (lots of post and all full of fear, and justified. IMO)
other say, get old 3speed or , get Toyoto or Volvo version of same tranny and put that in
with zuk tail xfr adapter.

all this to avoid making e the TCM (real or virtual in the PCM) work.

if you can pull it off, i'll , link this page to all other zuk forums ww. You'd be famous.!

my gut feeling.
real TCM way more easy to do then (PCM on 1.8L )
the 1.8L PCM is real hard to fool . (4sp shift wise) Newer the car, the hard it gets.

1: TPS easy (some cars have ECT inputs)
2: VSS easy.
3: shifter inputs, just leave it as is. no change.
4: "engine load. " now there you have the tiger by the tail.

look into how TCM (virtual or real) discovers LOAD. I think the ECU tells it that.
this is how they got rid of the vacuum modulator.
since the ECU knows the load all the time , it just informs the TCM of this fact read time.

this is my understanding , and is my opinion.

hope it helps others in some small way.

[carlosandpeppes]

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone has put a diesel in one of these?
Acme are of no help, theu wont sell me just the adapter and the supports and flywheel i wont be using.Does anyone have a drawing with dimensions for the engine plate?My tracker has a 2.0l dohc and manual trans, thanks in advance!

[kick-fix]

they want all your money.

funny that.